Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, and Oscar Piastri participated in two days of Pirelli tyre testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, which wrapped up on Wednesday. This test marked the third opportunity for Hamilton to drive for Ferrari following his switch from Mercedes over the winter, as teams gear up for the big changes set for the 2026 Formula 1 season.
The main goal of the test was to help Pirelli develop its new generation of tyres, which will be narrower and feature different specifications to align with the upcoming regulations. The teams utilized modified versions of their 2024 cars, with Ferrari's Leclerc and Hamilton sharing driving duties behind the wheel of the SF-24, which had been adapted to simulate changes anticipated under the new regulatory framework.
During the two-day session, Hamilton completed 161 laps, clocking his fastest time at 1:15.930 on the first day. Leclerc closely followed him, completing 160 laps and achieving the quickest overall time of 1:14.971 on Wednesday. Meanwhile, McLaren's Lando Norris set the pace on the opening day with a fastest time of 1:15.215, amassing 159 laps, and Oscar Piastri contributed with 152 laps and a personal best of 1:15.815.
Pirelli emphasized the significance of the lap times was limited due to different run programs for each driver, and the results should not be interpreted as direct indicators of future performance. Despite this, Pirelli’s Motorsport Director, Mario Isola, reflected on the productive nature of the test. "It was a very useful session, particularly when it came to providing a comparison between the various different constructions for next season as well as experimenting with some compounds from the harder end of the range," Isola noted.
The Barcelona circuit is renowned for its demanding nature, placing considerable stress on tyres. Isola continued, stating, "The information we have gathered over these two busy days will be very important for the future development of this generation of tyres." This thorough data collection will play a pivotal role as teams adapt to the changes poised to take place next season.
For Hamilton, this latest stint offered him another chance to adjust to his new surroundings at Ferrari, where he is expected to compete alongside Leclerc, soon after completing his introduction to the SF-23 at the Fiorano test track. Following the Barcelona tests, Hamilton’s next appearance is anticipated at Ferrari’s car launch on February 19, where they will showcase their new 2025 challenger, the SF-25.
The testing schedule continues with Pirelli heading to Jerez for more tyre evaluations next week, involving Alpine over two days and single-day tests for both McLaren and Mercedes. This busy lead-up to the season is highlighted by the upcoming preseason testing period from February 26 to 28, set to take place at Bahrain’s circuit before the season opener at the Australian Grand Prix on March 16.
Overall, this tyre test signifies Ferrari and Pirelli's commitment to ensuring the teams are well-prepared for the significant alterations to F1 regulations, which include the production of narrower tyres and modifications to downforce dynamics. With the collaboration between manufacturers and teams, the overall objective remains clear: to push the boundaries of performance as F1 prepares for its new era starting 2026.